Flush tank valve



Nov. 17, 1931. c. WILSON ET AL FLUSH TANK VALVE Filed May 16, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Nov. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFTCE ELIHU C. XVILSON, 0F LOS ANGELES, AND JAMES F. CRAVEN, OF EAGLE BOOK, CALI- FORNIA; SAID CRAVEN ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS OF HIS INTEREST TO SAID WILSON FLUSH TANK VALVE Application filed May 16,

This invention relates in general to valve mechanisms for flush tanks. It may be stated that a general object of the invention is to overcome numerous undesirable features common to the usual devices of this character, by providing a positive and quick acting valve assembly so timed in its workings and of a nature such that it substantially eleminates the noises characteristic of the operation of the usual flush tank valves.

By way of describing preliminarily the general nature of our invention, we shall point out briefly certain faults of the usual flush tank valve mechanisms, and state generally how these faults are overcome by the invention. The noisy operation characteristic of flush tanks, is brought about mainly due to the throttling action on the water by the valve mechanisms. For example, usually the closing of the water inlet valve is gradually effected under control of the float throughout its closing movement, that is, as the liquid level gradually rises in the tank, the inlet valves gradually close. And because of the gradual closing of the valve, the inlet water is throttled to the extent of causing considerable noise. Such disturbance may likewise be brought about at various other points at which the water, during its flow into or out of the tank, may be restricted or throttled.

In accordance with the invention, we prevent the occurrence of such noises by causinn both the inlet and outlet valves to act positively, or rapidly, as distinguished from gradual movement in accordance with the movement of a float, to the end that substan tially no throttling of the water takes place, and as a result the device is enabled to operate extremely quietly. To the same end, provision is made for maintaining unrestricted flow of the water at other points between the point of inlet to the tank, and the point of discharge from the bowl, the various liquid passages in the valve structure increasing in size so as to retard rather than increase the rate of flow. A further advantage is gained by enabling the inlet valve to remain entirely open during the period of inflow to the tank, and the outlet valve to remain open throughout the period of discharge, so that 1930. Serial No. 452,966.

invention, reference being had throughout the description to the annexed drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the valve assembly within a flush tank, the float being shown in its normal or raised position;

2 is a plan view of the float and valve assembly Fig. 3 is a vertical medial section through the device on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on line 4t of Fig. 3; and

Fig 5 is a view partly in section, taken on broken line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the valve housing or body, generally indicated at 10, comprises avertical tubular portion 11, having at its lower end an enlarged yoke or cage 11a through the openings 12 of which, liquid taken into the interior of the body from inlet 13, as will be later described, is discharged into the flush tank 15. The lowermost end 116 of the tubular body forms the outlet from the tank, and extends through an opening in the bottom thereof, the body being secured to the tank by nut 16 threaded on the lower end of the body and bearing upwardly against the bottom of the tank. It

be mentioned that the general arrangement and mounting of the float and valve parts within the tank are rendered particularly compact and simplified by the various parts being carried on or within the body 10, and the latter having a single point of attachment or footing in the bottom of the tank.

lVithin bore 18 of the tubular portion 11 of the body is a vertically movable overflow pipe 19, having a suitable amount of clearance from the bore wall, as indicated at 20, to provide a liquid passage. Overflow pipe 19 carries on its lower end the outlet valve 21, comprising a pair of flanges 22 and 23 threaded on the lower end of the pipe, there being confined between the flanges an annular washer 24 of rubber or other suitable material. This construction of the valve parts permits of ready replacement of washer 24 in case it becomes worn. The valve, or washer 24, seats on the upper more or less sharp edge of bushing 25 threaded within the upper end of the tubular section 11?). The valve seat or bushing 25 likewise may be readily removed and replaced as it becomes worn. Pipe 19 serves the dual purpose of providing an overflow conduit and as a mounting or carrier for the valve, opening or closing of the latter being brought about by vertically moving the standpipe.

Although any suitable means may be provided for manually raising the overflow pipe 1 9, to thereby permit the liquid in the tank to flow through outlet 11?) into the bowl (not shown) we have shown as typical, a clevis 27 carried on rod 28, which is mounted on a suitable support 29, the latter being attached as at 30 to the upper end of body 11. Clevis 27 has pivotal connection at 31 with overflow pipe 19 and is adapted to be swung vertically, by turning handle 28a, to raise the overflow pipe. The latter is held in raised position during the period of discharge from the tank, by means of a detent or catch arm 32, pivotally connected at 33 to the body and having a hooked end 34 adapted to engage a projection or lug 22a on flange 22, see Fig. 3, to hold the overflow pipe and valve in raised position. As shown in Fig. 5. the valve lug 22a projects outward within a vertical guide slot 12a in the body.

Referring now to the inlet valve mechanism, coaxial bores 36 and 37, preferably though not necessarily of equal diameter, are drilled in an offset portion 110 of the body, and contain a vertically reciprocating inlet valve 38 comprising piston sections 38a, 38?), corresponding in diameter respectively to the size of bores 36 and 37. Piston sections 38a, 386 are joined by an intermediate reduced diameter section 39. Bore 36 is closed at its upper end by means of plug 60, bore 37 however being open at its lower end to allow the valve to project below. Near the lower end of bore 36 is an annular chamber 40 which communicates with inlet 13, and below chamber 40 is a comparatively short extension 71, of bore 36, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. With valve 38 in raised position, as shown in Fig. 3, inlet liquid from pipe 13 and the annular chamber or recess 40, flows through the valve controlledopening 41 into annular chamber 42 intermediate the valve sections, and thence through passage 43 into annular space 20 in bore 18 surrounding the overflow pipe. The liquid is delivered to the bore of the body through space 20 and vertical channel 44 extending mitted to drop, the lower tapered end 380 of valve section 38a seats 011 the annular tapered shoulder 70, in the lower extension of the upper valve piston bore, or counter-bore 71, thus terminating the flow of inlet liquid. Additional details of the inlet valve structure and operation will be described to best advantage at a later point. It may be mentioned here, however, that during the period of liquid inlet to the tank, valve 38 is held in raised position by means of a stirrup 48 pivotally mounted on pin 45 extending laterally through the body, the stirrup being adapted to swing beneath the lower end of the valve as shown in Fig.

A rectangular or box-shaped float 50 has a parallel link connection with the body 11, by way of the upper and lower pairs of arms 51 and which are pivotally connected to the float at their outer ends. Arms 51 are pivotally mounted on pin 45 on which stirrup 48 is hung. For reasons that will later appear, arms 52 may be considered levers, and these arms are pivoted on pin 33, at the inside of forks 32a of the detent arm. A pin 54 extends between and terminates in the inner ends of arms 52, and is adapted to engage the lower end of valve 38 to raise and lower the latter as arms 52 swing vertically upon raising and lowering of the float. Thus during the lowering of the liquid inthe tank from its normal level L to the lowermost level at which the outlet valve becomes closed, the inlet valve is raised from closed position, to the open position shown in Figs. 3 and 5. WVhen the float 50 is in its raised or normal position, see Fig. 1, stirrup 48 is engaged and held away from the lower end of the valve by circular projections on cams 56 on arn'is 52, but as the float lowers, cams 56 are swung inward while the valve is being raised by engagement with pin 54, so as to permit stirrup 48 toswing beneath the valve and hold it in raised position. The point at which locking of the valve in raised posit-ion by stirrup 48 occurs, may be substantially that indicated in Fig. 3.

Due to the .fact that in case the water pressure in the main is abnormally high there may be a slight retarding in the o icning of the inlet valve, accompanied by a resultant raising of the float relative to the liquid level, the opening of the inlet and its locking in open position by the stirrup, are regulated so as to occur a suflicient length of time ahead of movement of the float to its lowermost position that the valve will be assured of having been moved to its full open position and the stirrup to have swung underneath the valve. The valve is held in this position untii the stirrup is again engaged by the can) and thrown outward to release the valve as the float returns to its normal level. a It will be float has returned to its normal level.

Assuming the outlet valve and overflow pipe to be held in raised position, as shown in Fig. 3, as the float nears its lowermost position 50a, shoulders 61 on arms 59 are brought into engagement with detent arm 32, swinging the latter outward to the dotted line position 32?) and to the point at which the valve lug 22a is released and the valve and overflow pipe permitted to drop. It will be readily understood that by virtue of the rectangular or box shape of the float, the depth to which it is submerged in the liquid is comparatively less than that of the usual spherical float, and as a result, the liquid may fall to a lower level near the bot-tom of the tank and yet buoy up the float, the latter therefore having a greater range of vertical movement than would be had by a spherical float. Arms 51 and 52 accordingly having correspondingly greater range of vertical travel, giving a comparatively long stroke to pin 54, whereby the latter is enabled to impartvto the valve the required length of travel for its opening movement.

We will now describe the operation of the device assuming the parts to be in the position shown in-Fig. l and the tank to be filled with liquid to the normal level L. To flush the bowl, handle 28a is turned so as to open the outlet valve 21 and raise the stand pipe to the point at which it is retained in raised position by engagement of lug 22s by hook 34. As liquid drains from the tank througl'i outlet 11?) and the float lowers, the inlet valve becomes raised to open position by the engagement of pin 54 with the lower end thereof, stirrup 48 simultaneously being allowed to swing beneath the valve and hold it in open .position by the inward movement of cam 56 as previously described. As the float reaches its lower position 50a, detent is actuated to release the outlet valve and permit it to close, whereupon the tank starts to fill. The device is inherently capable of providing for the a-fterflow to the bowl without necessitating special provision, due to the fact that the liquid in the tank is permitted to drop to such a low level that the head is insufficient to provide the amount of discharge to the bowl necessary to maintain the siphoning action therein. As a result the siphon is broken before the tank empties,

. leaving a sufficient amount of liquid therein to provide the afterfiow.

Upon raising of the inlet valve to open position, the liquid discharged from inlet 13 to the annular space 20 around the overflow pipe and channel 44, may tend to surge up wardly within the space. 20 and overflow at the upper end of the body. As a means'fer preventing such overflow, a pair of vertically spaced annular ribs 64 and 65 are formed in the bore wall, the space 66 between said ribs providing an eddy chamber. The in nor faces of ribs 64 and 65 have a slight amount of clearance from the overflow pipe sufficient to permit the liquid to surge upward around the pipe. Thus as the liquid edcies upward into chamber 6 the frictional resistance to its upward flow is such as to prevent it from overflowin within the in terval of time during whicn the inlet valve remains open.

Provision is made for rendering the device noiseless in its operation during the period of inflow to the flush tank, by maintaining an unrestricted flow of intake liquid by progressively increasing the size of the inlet passage so as to preclude any possibility of the liquid becoming throtrled. Thus the various fluid passa es between the inlet pipe 13 and the point of discharge at the bottom of pipe 11 increase progressively in area, that is, the effective opening within bore 41 somewhat greater than the internal area of pipe 13, passage 6L3 is of larger area than the opening in bore a1, and the combined areas of space 20 and A exceed that of passage l3. The effect thus gained is to reduce the pressure of the liquid without afiecting the float and thereby preclude any possibility of noises resulting from throttling of the liquid.

As shown in 5, the upper valve section 38a has a slight amount of clearance at 68 from the wall of bore 36, the amount of clearancebeing such as to allow'liquid to flow upward around the valve, while the lat ter is in open position, to space 69 in the end of the valve bore. Although in certain instances, especially where the valve may be subject to corrosion, it may be desirable to provide means, such as a spring, for exerting a positive downward thrust on the valve to close it, usually the liquid which flows into space 69 by way of the clearance 68 will serve to exert a sufficient downward pressure on the valve. to colse it, and as a result when stirrup 38 is thrown outward to the point of releasing the valve, as the liquid returns, to its normal level, the valve is suddenly thrown downward and seated in the recess 46. Due to the fact that instantaneous seating of the valve may result in undesirable pounding and the causing of a.watenhamnier in the inlet line, means is provioed for more or cushioning the valve at the end of its closing movement. It will be noted that bore 36 is continued at 71, slightly below the annul a1- chamber 10 so as to form a cylindrical lip or counter bore above the tapered shoulder 70 on which the valve seats. The 'efl'ect had by providing the counter boreabove the valve seat, is that as the valve is thrown downward, its-movement. prior to seating is retarded due to the restriction offered the liquid beneath the valve'as it enters bore 72. Consequently the valve is retarded at the end of its movement to an extent suflicient to prevent pounding and yet. is permitted to close with such rapidity as to-prevent throttling action.

In order to preclude the possibility'of leakage occurring around the valveafter a time as a result of abrasion and wear on the tapered portion 38b,it may be desirable to provide a comparatively soft resilient seat engaging annuluszon-the valve.- This may be done, as shown in Fig. 5, by forming an annularv recess '90 in the tape-red face of the valve, and inserting within the recess a cushion ring 91' of rubber or other suitable mate rial. The cushion ring preferably is just snugly seated in the .recess,vthat is it is not stretched or expanded to any great degree, in orderthatit may be soft and capable of conforming with the valve seat 70.

By allowing the inlet valve to remain all the wayopen during the period of intake to the tank, the latter is enabled to fill in much less time than would be required were the valve permitted to-gradually close in accordance with: the raisingof the float. Should for any reason the inlet valve remain unseated after the closing of the outlet valve and afterthe liquid had risen to'its normal level so as to causeleakage that might result in the liquid overflowing the tank, the liquid after risin to the upper endrof pipe 19, would overlfow into the pipeand thence through the outlet 116.

It .will be understood the drawings and description vare to be considered merely as illustrative of and not restrictive on the broader claims appended hereto, for various changes in design, strnctureandarrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of said claims.

We claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination comprising a flush tank, a float within said tank, a liquid inlet valve, an outlet valve at the bottom of the tank, means under control of said float for opening said inlet valve as the liquid level in the tank lowers, means for holding the inlet valve inopen position, means controlled by said float for actuating said valve holding means to release the inlet valve topermit it to close when the liquidreturns substantially to its normal level, and means for retarding the closing travel of said inlet valve only at substantially the end of its closing movement.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination comprising a flush tank, a float within said tank, a liquid inlet valve, an outlet valve at the bottom of the tank, means for opening-said inlet valve as the liquid level in the tank lowers, means for holding the inlet valve in wide open position,-means for holding said outlet valve in open position during lowering of the liquid level, means controlled by said float for actuating the outlet valve holding means to release the outlet valve when the liquid reaches a predetermined level, means for actuating said inlet valve holding means to release the inlet valve when the liquid reaches substantially its normal level, and means for retarding the closing travel of said inlet valve only at substantially the end of its closing movement.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination comprising a flush tank containing a valve body, a float within said tank, a cylindrical inlet valve operating in a bore in said body and having a sliding fit with the bore wall, a float controlled lever adapted upon lowering ofthe float to cause said inlet valve to move from closed to open position, means for holding said valve in open position, means controlled by said lever for releasing said valve holding means to permit the valve to close when the float returns substantially to its normal level, and means for retarding the closing travel of said inlet valve only at substantially the end of its closing movement.

4. In a flush tank valve structure, a valve body having an inlet passage, and an outlet at the base of the body, a float, an inlet valve in said body, a float controlled lever mounted on said body and adapted upon-lowering of the float to cause said inlet valve to be moved from closed to open position, means for holding said valve in open position, an outlet valve, means for manually o ening said outlet valve, means for holding said outlet valve in open osition, and means for operating both sai means for holding the inlet and outlet valves in open positions, under control of said lever to permit the valves to close. I

5. In a flush tank valve structure, a float, a vertical tubular body, a verticall movable overflow pipe in the bore of said b0 y, an outlet valve on the lower end of said overflow pipe, means adapted to engage and hold said overflow pipe and valve assembly in raised position, said means being disen ageable from said assembly to permit the latter to fall, and float controlled means mounted on said body for actuating said holding means to disengage and release said pipe and valve from raised position and to permit the valve to close.

6. In a flush tank valve structure, a float, a vertical tubular body, a vertically movable overflow pipe in the bore of said body, an outlet valve on the lower end of said overflow pipe, a detent mounted on said body and adapted to releasably engage and hold said overflow pipe and valve in raised position, and a float controlled lever pivotally connectloo ed to said body and adapted to actuate said detent to release said pipe and valve from raised position and to permit the valve to close.

7. In a flush tank valve structure, a float, avertical tubular body, a vertically movable overflow pipe in the bore of said body and spaced from the wall thereof, an outlet valve on the lower end of said pipe, a liquid inlet passage in said body leading into the bore thereof around said overflow pipe, and an inlet valve in said body for controlling the flow through said passage.

8. In a flush tank valve structure, a float, a vertical tubular body, a vertically movable overflow pipe in the bore of said body and spaced from the wall thereof, an outlet valve on the lower end of said pipe, a vertically movable inlet valve in said body and offset from the bore thereof, said inlet valve con trolling the flow through a liquid inlet passage opening into said body bore, and float controlled means for operating said valves.

9. In a flush tank valve structure, a float, a vertical tubular body, a. vertically movable overflow pipe in the bore of said body and spaced from the wall thereof, an outlet valve on the lower end of said pipe, means for holding said pipe and valve in raised position, a vertically movable inlet valve in said body and oflset from the bore thereof, said inlet valve controlling the flow through a liquid inlet passage opening into said body bore, a float controlled lever adapted to raise said inlet valve from closed to open position upon lowering of the float, and means for holding said inlet valve in raised osition, both said means for holding said va yes in raised positions being operable by said lever to release the valves at predetermined positions of the float.

10. In a flush tank valve structure, a body having a lower tubular end extending through the bottom of the tank and forming an outlet, a liquid inlet leading into said body, an inlet valve Within said body and an outlet valve at the base thereof for controlling the flow through said outlet, and float controlled means for operating said valves.

11. In a flush tank valve structure, a body, an inlet valve in said body and an outlet valve at the base thereof, an arm pivotally mounted on said body and adapted to operate said valves, and a substantially rectangular or box-shaped float connected to said arm.

12. In a flush tank valve structure, a body, an inlet valve in said body and an outlet valve at the base thereof, a substantially rectangular or box-shaped float, and a pair of parallel arms pivotally connected to said body and to the float, and means operably connecting one of said arms with said valves.

13. In a flushing valve, a body having a bore, a cylindrical piston valve in said bore, an annular liquid inlet chamber in the wall of said body at the end of the bore, and a seat for said valve within said chamber opposite the end of the valve bore.

14. In a flushing valve, a body having a vertical bore, a cylindrical piston valve in said bore and having a lower tapered end, an annular liquid inlet chamber in the Wall of said bore, the lower portion of the bore continuing below said annular chamber, and an annular tapered seat for said valve at the upper end of said lower portion of the bore.

15. In a flushing valve, a body having a pair of co-axial bores, an outlet chamber between said bores, a cylindrical reciprocable valve having piston sections in each of said bores and a reduced portion extending through said chamber and inter-connecting said piston sections, an annular inlet chamber in the wall of said upper bore, and a seat for the upper valve section at the lower end of said chamber.

16. In a flushing valve, a body having a valve bore, a cylindrical piston valve in said bore, and a valve seat spaced beyond the end of said bore, said seat having a valve controlled opening comprising a comparatively short counter bore adapted to receive the end of said valve, the diameter of said counter bore being substantially equal to the diameter of the valve bore, and an annular valve seat at the inner end of said counter bore.

17. In a flushing valve, a body having a valve bore, a cylindrical piston valve in said bore, said valve having an annular tapered end face, and a valve seat spaced beyond the end of said bore, said seat having a valve controlled opening comprising a comparatively short counter bore adapted to receive the end of said valve, the diameter of said counter bore being substantially equal to the diameter of the valve bore, and an annular tapered valve seat at the inner end of said counter bore, adapted to receive said tapered end face of the valve.

18. In a flush tank valve structure, the combination comprising, a valve body, a float, a reciprocally movable cylindrical inlet valve operating in an open end bore in said body, float controlled means adapted to raise said valve from closed to open position upon lowering of the float, means for holding said valve in open position, said last mentioned means being adapted to be actuated by said lever to release said valve and permit it to close when the float returns substantially to its normal level, and means for retarding the travel of said valve at substantially the end of its closing movement, comprising a valve seat spaced from the open end of said bore and having a comparatively short counterbore into which said valve extends upon seating.

19. In a flush tank valve structure, a float, a vertical tubular body, a vertically movable overflow pipe in the bore of said body and spaced from the wall thereof, an outlet valve on the lower end of said pipe, a liquid inlet passage in said body leading into the bore thereof around said overflow pipe, an inlet valve in said body for controlling the flow through said passage, and float controlled means mounted on said tubular body for operating said valves.

20. In a flush tank valve structure, a float, a vertical tubular body, a vertically movable overflow pipe in the bore of said body and spaced from the wall thereof, an outlet valve on the lower end of said pipe, a liquid inlet passage in said body leading into the bore thereof around said overflow pipe, a vertically movable cylindrical inlet valve carried in a bore in said body offset from the first mentioned bore, and float controlled means mounted on said body for operating said valves.

21. In a flush tank valve structure, a float, a vertical tubular body, a vertically movable overflow pipe in the bore of said body and spaced from the wall thereof, an outlet valve on the lower end of said pipe, a liquid inlet passage in said body leading into the bore thereof around said overflow pipe, a vertically movable cylindrical inlet valve carried in a vertical bore in said body, said bore being open at its lower end and said inlet valve projecting below the lower end of said bore, and float controlled means mounted on said body and engageable with the lower end of said inlet valve to operate same.

In witness that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto subscribed our names this 18th day of April, 1930.

ELIHU C. WILSON. JAMES F. CRAVEN. 

